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DCI Evan Warlow book cover 1
DCI Evan Warlow book cover 2
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DCI Evan Warlow
Series · 15
books · 2022-2025

Books in series

The Engine House book cover
#1

The Engine House

2022

You can bury the bodies, but you can’t hide the truth. When a landslip on Pembrokeshire’s stunning coastal path reveals the harrowing remains of two bodies, ex-DCI Evan Warlow’s quiet retirement is shattered. As the original investigator for the two missing persons eight years before, Evan is recalled to help with what is now a murder inquiry. But as the killer scrambles to cover up the truth, the body count rises. Working with a new young team, Warlow peels away the layers to reveal the dark and rotten heart that beats beneath the chocolate box tranquillity of an area renowned for its quiet beauty. But does he still have what it takes to root out the monstrous truth before all hell lets loose? The Engine House is the gripping debut crime thriller set in the heart of wild Wales from author Rhys Dylan. Perfect for fans of LJ Ross, JD Kirk. JM Dalgliesh and Simon McCleave. Celtic noir with a spatter of dark humour.
Caution Death At Work book cover
#2

Caution Death At Work

2022

A dark past casts a deep shadow. Evan Warlow is back in the saddle as a DCI, though he isn’t yet sure he deserves to be, and there are others who share his doubts. When a brutal attack on two mountain bikers in the vast solitude of the Brechfa forest leaves one dead and the other badly injured, the hunt is on for the killer. And though the evidence points firmly in one direction, an open and shut case soon becomes murky and unclear. It’s not the first time bad things have happened in these woods. Things that some have tried desperately to forget. But for the killer, it’s more a matter of unfinished business. Unless Evan and the team can outwit a vengeful and clever murderer, someone else is going to die.
Ice Cold Malice book cover
#3

Ice Cold Malice

2022

Revenge is a dish best served… ice cold. While beach combing on MOD property, two young boys stumble across a reeking mound of tangled kelp. But it isn’t the seaweed that stinks. It’s the decomposing corpse beneath it. Called in to investigate, DCI Evan Warlow’s team are faced with finding out how and why the body of a struck-off doctor ended up on a lonely beach within sight of Laugharne’s famous Boathouse. But this is no innocent victim. This is a man with more enemies than friends. A fact that muddies the waters no end as Warlow unearths more and more of the dead man’s sordid history. Not to mention a long line of suspects. With a killer in their midst hell bent on achieving a deadly goal and determined to let nothing and no one stand in their way, the team need to be on their guard. Unless they want to end up as victims, too. Ice Cold Malice is the third book in the DCI Evan Warlow series of Black Beacons thrillers by Rhys Dylan. Set in the heart of wild Wales, this dark murder mystery tinged with wry humour and populated by true to life characters, will keep you guessing. Perfect for fans of LJ Ross, JD Kirk. JM Dalgliesh, TG Reid and Simon McCleave. Celtic noir with a spattering of dark humour.
Suffer The Dead book cover
#4

Suffer The Dead

2022

When a farmer and his son go missing whilst chasing thieves, DCI Evan Warlow and his team are called in to investigate. Everything points to a botched raid by rustlers, but with no bodies, and little or no clues, the team quickly start chasing their tails. But even a hardened pro like Warlow isn’t prepared for the monstrous truth when, like a rabid sheepdog, it finally sits up and bites him on the leg.
Gravely Concerned book cover
#5

Gravely Concerned

2022

Predators watch. They’re patient. And strike when it’s least expected. In broad daylight, on a quiet rural road, six-year-old Osian Howells disappears from his own front garden. In the blink of an eye he’s a missing person, taken, in the words of a headline hungry press, for nefarious purposes. DCI Evan Warlow knows that the first hours after an abduction are crucial. Decisions have to be made quickly. Evidence can get lost or compromised, persons of interest need to be interrogated. And one or two have the team’s antennae twitching. Worse, the abductor’s deviousness seems to know no bounds as cruel taunts pepper the investigation. With emotions at boiling point, and under pressure from family, the press and his superiors are all ‘gravely concerned’ for the boy’s welfare. As always in such cases, the clock is ticking. Warlow and the team need answers and soon, before a kidnapping turns into something infinitely worse.
A Mark of Imperfection book cover
#6

A Mark of Imperfection

2023

Evan Warlow is a man with enemies. As a DCI in the Dyfed Powys force, that comes with the territory. But when two of his most vicious critics are abducted and turn up dead in a macabre tableau, tough questions need to be asked. The uncomfortable answers lead Evan and the team back to his roots and an old case that has haunted him for years. The deaths in the forest have all the hallmarks of a dangerous killer with no fear of consequences. And when one of Evan’s fellow officers becomes the next target, it’s clear that the murderer isn’t finished yet. There’s a coppery aroma of vendetta in the air. Unless Evan and the team can get to the root cause of the killer’s twisted anger, there will be more deaths. And guess who’s next on the list?
Burnt Echo book cover
#7

Burnt Echo

2023

In a deep, dark, hole… When the putrid smell oozing out of an old mine shaft in the Cambrian hills’ ‘green desert’ of Wales turns out to be a corpse, DCI Evan Warlow and his team quickly slip into gear. But this is no pot-holing adventure gone wrong. Soon, Evan and the team are hunting for another missing person and discovering ghosts from the past that no one wants to confront. With the team stretched and confronting their own demons, DCI Warlow has his work cut out in unravelling a web of manipulation and lies. Yet there is more than one victim here. And unless he can find a way to the truth and quickly, someone else is going to fall foul. This dark murder mystery full of action and pathos with a dash of dark humour will keep you guessing.
A Body of Water book cover
#8

A Body of Water

2023

When a delivery driver stumbles across the dead body of a reclusive author in a remote area within a stone’s throw of the Llyn Brianne dam, his first thoughts are that the elderly man has had a heart attack. But the knife sticking out of the corpse’s chest tells a different story. Why would anyone target such a defenceless victim? That’s the first problem DCI Evan Warlow has to solve when he and his team arrive to investigate. But soon, some missing walkers, a secretive cult, and the unwelcome presence of paranormal-hunting podcasters all add to the team’s woes. But the killer is abroad and has already ended one innocent life. If Warlow can’t peel away the layers to get to the rotten heart of the case and quickly, more deaths are sure to follow. Tick-Tock.
Lines of Inquiry book cover
#9

Lines of Inquiry

2023

One of our own.. . DCI Evan Warlow believes that murder is a cardinal sin. Even when the victim is a drug dealing, money-laundering criminal. But when a police officer is shot in the same incident at a tranquil beach near Tenby in South Pembrokeshire… Suddenly it’s personal. What appears, on the surface, to be a falling out between partners in crime soon spirals into an operation involving gang warfare and a great deal of money. But even Warlow is not prepared for what lurks beneath the surface of this most terrible of crimes. The truth, hidden under a tangled knot of lies, will lead him to a terrifying conclusion, and that most dangerous of beings; a killer with nothing left to lose. Another fast paced, gripping police procedural that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. For fans of Vera, Peter James, JD Kirk and David Gatward
No One Near book cover
#10

No One Near

2023

What can you do when there is No One Near... High in the Welsh hills, a honeymoon getaway takes a dark turn when a rotting corpse is discovered in the rental property’s bedroom. In a dark, damp December, DCI Evan Warlow and his team head out to investigate. They find a victim who may not be as innocent as he first seems, and a rural community harbouring the worst kind of secrets. When a second victim is attacked and a third goes missing, Evan knows he’s up against a rogue killer with a Christmas list of his own. And it’s a deadly one. Can he unmask the culprit before the season's festivities turn into a bloodbath?
The Light Remains book cover
#11

The Light Remains

2024

The games people play… When a revered sports legend falls victim to a brutal home invasion, a nation is shaken to its core. Outrage swells and the press and powers that be demand answers. DCI Evan Warlow, fresh from a well-earned vacation, is thrown into the cauldron to lead the investigation. But the victim, despite his iconic status, has secrets of his own. Amidst the chaos of jealousy and rivalry that swirls around the case, a darker underbelly emerges. The pursuit of truth transforms into a gripping hunt, but whose truth is the team hunting? Something else lurks in the labyrinth of deception. Something vile and twisted that could strike again at any moment... unless it’s found. Another fast paced, gripping, police procedural that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. For fans of Vera, Peter James, JD Kirk and David Gatward “⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A very tightly written story, by someone who knows how to write a chilling tale.” Amazon Review, THE ENGINE HOUSE “⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Would give this mystery a ten if I could absolutely love it and what a great detective and team they are making. Amazon Review, CAUTION DEATH AT WORK "⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Love the writing, very compelling, captivating and comfortable to read. Thanks again for a brilliant book. Amazon Review, ICE COLD MALICE "⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wow, that was some read. Again, read in one sitting as the author has the uncanny knack of getting into your head and you thinking, just one more chapter then I'll go and do the housework! AMZ Review, SUFFER THE DEAD “⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Based in Wales this, a beautifully written police procedural with many twists and turns, but with great credibility. Certainly the best I've read for many a month, so roll on the next one.” AMZ Review, GRAVELY CONCERNED “⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Justifiably the best around. Do yourself a favour and read this series.” AMZ Review, A MARK OF IMPERFECTION “⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Can’t wait to reach the conclusion but disappointed when the books finished. Next one please! AMZ Review BURNT ECHO “⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great read! The Black Beacons Murder Mystery books are some of the best British Crime books out there. DCI Evan Warlow, and his wonderful team, are a joy to read. AMZ Review LINES OF INQUIRY
A Matter of Evidence book cover
#12

A Matter of Evidence

2024

One wrong does not justify another In the desolate landscapes of SENTA, the Bannau Brycheiniog army training grounds, DCI Warlow and his seasoned investigators find themselves ensnared in a deadly game of shadows. A man, recently released from prison after a 20-year wrongful conviction, is discovered dead, igniting a storm of doubt and suspicion. As long-buried secrets claw their way to the surface, the line between truth and deception blurs. With everyone involved in the original case now a potential suspect, they must tread carefully and confront the crimes of old as well as the present. As the stakes escalate, can Warlow decipher the puzzle of the past before the present claims another victim?
The Last Throw book cover
#13

The Last Throw

2024

This time, it's more than personal. Within the tranquil confines of a west Wales village, peace gives way to pandemonium as a trivial theft transforms into a devastating tragedy. DCI Evan Warlow confronts what initially appears to be a straightforward case, only to find himself ensnared in a web of deceit. And when a routine press assignment also exposes a team member to a malevolent scheme, chaos begins to spiral. From idyllic coastlines to rugged peaks, Warlow races across diverse landscapes in pursuit of answers and to foil a deadly adversary. In an electrifying narrative of suspense and sacrifice, he must forge unconventional alliances to tilt the scales in his favour before it's too late.
Dragon's Breath book cover
#14

Dragon's Breath

2024

In the mountains, some secrets are deadlier than the storms. A man wanders lost on a filthy night in the Black mountains of Wales. Despite the valiant efforts of the rescue services, he does not survive. Is this an accident? Or malice aforethought? DCI Warlow and team are drawn into a mystery that soon spirals into more deaths and a poisonous trade. A devious killer is abroad. One that cares for nothing other than their own twisted greed. The dragon's breath taints everything it touches. And no one is safe.
The Bowman book cover
#15

The Bowman

2025

In the wild heart of Wales, terror stalks the open moor. In the remote and unforgiving Cambrian Mountains, two bodies are found, sparking fears that a long-buried nightmare has returned. DCI Warlow is plunged into a chilling mystery, hunting a murderer who disappeared without a trace—leaving only blood and silence behind. As Warlow’s team battles against mounting pressure, they face a haunting is this the work of a twisted imitator, or has The Bowman, a ruthless killer thought to be gone forever, resurfaced? With each dark discovery, they’re pulled deeper into a case where the land itself seems to conspire against them—and the answers may come at a deadly cost.

Author

Rhys Dylan
Rhys Dylan
Author · 15 books

https://www.facebook.com/Rhysdylanbooks https://www.instagram.com/rhysdylanbo... Rhys Dylan lives on the edge of the Black mountains of Wales with his wife and a dog who doesn't like the rain. Though he has written books for children and adults under different pen names in other genres, the Black Beacons Murder Mystery series sees him return to crime and his love of Celtic noir and dark humour. He hopes readers will find a brief escape from a very troubled world inside the stories. He does not expect to get rich as an author, but as someone once famously said, money can't buy you love, but it can get you some great chocolate digestives.

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